South Bend students create apps against crime

If you want to report a crime happening near you ,there might soon be a new app for that.

Some South Bend students spent their summer vacation creating mobile apps to help curb violence in their neighborhoods.

And Thursday, they got to launch their projects for Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

“I’m actually very thankful. I get to help the community," said eighth grader Asiad Mohamed.

An opportunity to help the community inspired 13-year-old Mohamed to go from the classroom to the boardroom Thursday afternoon.

"No violence, no shooting, no cyber bullying anymore,” he said.

He’s just one of many South Bend students tired of crime happening in their neighborhoods.

“It’s not a good feeling, so we’re trying to prevent that from happening to anyone else,” said eighth grader Caribia Coleman.

So they held their first public business meeting to unveil several anti-crime apps they created themselves.

“Whether it’s trying to create a storyboard for people who’ve been affected by violence in the community, to the anonymous bully tip hotline, these kids have built applications for it,” said Alex Sejdinaj, founder of South Bend Code School.

Sejdinaj taught a five week HTML class to these students.

“We wanted to demolish the barrier between these kids and technology,” said Sejdinaj.

And they’re using their talents to make a difference.

“They’re going to help their city and help their communities so these kids are all superheroes today,” said Sejdinaj.

Mayor Buttigieg recognized that difference Thursday, as well.

“It gives me a lot of hope for the future of South Bend and it’s also just really fun to spend some time with these great young people,” said Buttigieg.

They're young people today, but leaders tomorrow.

“If we can get that to happen I think the community will go beyond limits,” said Mohamed.

Students a part of this program will head to Chicago Friday to present these apps to Google.